Keeping Kurrent

23/11/2024

The USA is complicit in the war in Gaza & the West Bank. It’s time to stop the Israeli government’s attacks and find peace. The will not do so until we withhold arms.

07/09/2024

Gardening at the Good Roots Community Garden is different than the community garden I am involved in. Why? Because you are asked to harvest fresh garden produce. They encourage you to donate but you are not required to. A professional gardener, Arthur Moore, is responsible for planning, planting and maintaining the garden. Harvesters are not required to work the garden. Community residents make regular use of the garden. Wayne Potter interviewed Arthur “Fresh Air” Moore and you can listen to is by using this link: https://on.soundcloud.com/ZuTsYcK3uyTDLkQR9
You’l learn some unique things about this garden; perhaps you’ll want to find ways to use Moore’s ideas.

In this episode of Keeping Kurrent you’ll meet Arthur “Blues Sharp” Moore. He manages the garden planting season at a Community Garden. The garden is open to everyone and provides a glimpse into the

27/08/2024

I’ve been walking the Oak Grove community since 2019 and haven’t even scratched the surface. Here’s the latest find, a neighborhood cat house near Oak Grove Blvd. How many cats can you count?

24/07/2024

I live at Willamette View, a retirement community that borders the Willamette River. It is truly located in a beautiful spot where we can watch the river and enjoy the natural wildlife everyday in lots of different types of weather. I have become quite interested in what is called the Willamette River Greenway which is a designation placed upon the land in 1975 by Governor Tom McCall. The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development established Goal 15, the Willamette Greenway. I found an interesting video created by OPB in 2022 about the Willlamette River Greenway. Travis Williams, previous Executive Director of the Willamette Riverkeepers wrote a book about the River. It really provides some valuable insight about the Greenway. Enjoy it.

Travis Williams has spent a lot of time on the Willamette River. He’s the executive director of the environmental nonprofit Willamette Riverkeeper and the author of the new book “Willamette River Greenways.” The book explores the history of the Willamette River Greenway, a nearly 200-mile corr...

21/07/2024

Wagashi sweets come in many varieties. This interview of Gena Renaud gives you a picture of the process of making them. Gena is truly a master designer and you learn what it takes to become one.

On this episode of Keeping Kurrent you’ll learn more about Gena Renaud as she describes how she learned Japanese art history and techniques. She tells us how she expanded on her skills back in the Un

19/07/2024

Thanks to Oregon Public Broadcasting for introducing me to Gena Renaud, a local celebrity who stands out for her skill in producing wonderful art in the form of wagashi sweets. You can taste these sweets at the Umami Cafe located at Portland’s Japanese Garden. This is part one of a two part series. You’ll learn about Gena’s personal history starting in South Korea and ending up in Portland, Oregon.

On this episode of Keeping Kurrent, you’ll meet Gena Renaud, an artist and designer. She has an outstanding life experience that began in a rural village in South Korea, moved to Japan and to the Uni

06/07/2024

06/07/2024

Summer has arrived with the speed of a hotrod. I am inside a lot more. I need to interview more people and this time should allow me to contact more individuals.

I’m currently working on a story for Keeping Kurrent about Gena Renaud. She is a wonderful artist whose special focus right now is making Wagashi sweets. These sweets has been a traditional dish eaten during a Japanese tea ceremony. There is now an American version that uses ingredients found in the USA. More later.

28/06/2024

Richardson’s comments help us focus on Trump’s method of non-answers and outright fictional statements that his supporters supply to him and which he mouths adnauseam. The analysis which took CNN more than 3 minutes to re-state and a lengthy period to analyze would ensure that no one could answer them in a timely fashion. Trump managed his lies so no one could have effectively dealt with the facts. Also, will Trump ever answer a question with has nothing to do with what was asked? The CNN’s, MSNBC’s, CBS’s and other’s need to take a more real look at the fiasco that was called a debate

A newsletter about the history behind today's politics.

26/03/2024

BBHEyeFoundation is a small non-profit that focuses on cataract removal and the promotion of eye health. The foundation focuses it work on India, Nepal, Vietnam and Myanmar. They establish rural eye clinics. Nearly 80% of vision impairment can be prevented or cured. I would urge you to consider this important international work. Their website is https://www.bbheye.org/overview/. I will be interviewing one of the key founders in April. Please stay tuned.

26/03/2024

Looking for friends for my Keeping Kurrrent Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063557801355

Keeping Kurrent is the place where we talk about the ideas, issues and trends that shape our everyda

26/03/2024

I hear a lot about the mental health of young people who are so influenced by social media. I have, in a small way, supported an organization called Play Write. They interact with school age students to help them write a short play that expresses their personal feellings as they relate to their everyday life. One recent workshop at the Mt. Scott Learning Center, a young participant said “I feel like my shiny side is trhe good side of me.” I would encourage you to learn more about. They are helping our young people deal with today’s issues. Learn more about them here:

PlayWrite, Inc. is a nonprofit performance arts-based program that creates safe space for youth at the edge using one-to-one coaching and creative storytelling.

19/02/2024

I had an opportunity to meet and then interview Julia Ray, an Oregon resident who traveled to Alabama to visit three cities, Selma, Birmingham and Montgomery over a week’s time to re-discover the significant Civil Rights events during the 1960’s and 1970’s. I hope that you’ll learn from her experience and consider how you might take this or a similar trip.

Meet Julie Ray, an Oregon resident, who visited three cities in Alabama: Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery where local leaders taught her about the civil rights turmoil of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Learn

14/02/2024

What is a Civil Rights Pilgrimage? There are a variety of answers to this question. I learned a bit about one of the answers when I recently interviewed Julia Ray, a local Oregon resident who went on a civil rights pilgrimage to Alabama at this time in 2023 under the auspices of the North Carolina Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation. She traveled to Alabama for about one week. Find out more about the NISDF at https://ncspiritualdirection.org/.

“equipping, inspiring, transforming”